See how to apply to the Doctoral Programme in Governance with a Hertie Stipend.
Application period for 2024 intake now closed.
Applications considered on a rolling basis.
Separate application process.
For an overview of funding options, download our PhD funding information sheet.
PhD Stipend
Each year the Hertie School awards PhD stipends of 1,450 Euros per month plus a monthly health insurance contribution of up to 200 Euros.
The timeline pictured below shows the order of the Hertie Stipend application process:
When to apply
The application period for the Doctoral Programme in Governance stipend is now closed for the 2024 intake.
The application period for the 2025 cohort will open around the end of Fall, please check our website closer to the time for more specific dates and information.
How to apply
Follow the steps on our Apply to a Doctoral Programme in Governance page.
Please note that the application portal for the 2024 cohort is currently closed. More information on application for the 2025 cohort will be available at the end of Fall.
External Funding
It is possible to join the Hertie School as a PhD candidate if you secure external funding through the DAAD or a German foundation.
The timeline pictured below shows the order of the external funding application process:
When to apply to Hertie
We have a rolling application deadline for our Doctoral Programme in Governance if you intend to secure external funding.
Please note: We only accept external funding from the DAAD or one of the listed German foundations.
Please expect a processing time of at least 6-8 weeks following your application submission and plan accordingly with corresponding external funding deadlines.
If your application to the Hertie School is successful then you will recieve a conditional offer. This is dependent on you successfully securing external funding.
When to apply to German foundations (Begabtenförderungswerke)
Apply for doctoral funding via one of the 13 foundations or Begabtenförderungswerke funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education. Visit the Begabtenförderungswerke website for more information.
As all foundations have different application deadlines, please apply to the Hertie School at least 2 months before the deadline applicable to you.
Application deadlines for each foundation:*
- Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (Application deadline twice yearly, 1 March and 1 September)
- Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk (Application deadline twice yearly, 31 March and 30 September)
- Avicenna Studienwerk (Application deadline twice yearly, April and October)
- Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (Application period twice yearly, 1-30 April and 1-31 October)
- Hans-Böckler-Stiftung (Application deadline twice yearly, May and November)
- Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung (Application deadline twice yearly, 15 July and 15 January)
- Cusanuswerk e.V. (Application deadline twice yearly, June and November)
- Evangelisches Studienwerk e.V. (Application deadline twice yearly, 1 June and 1 December)
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Application deadline once yearly, 15 July)
- Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (Application deadline twice yearly, mid-Jan and mid-July)
- Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (Application deadline once yearly, 1 October)
- Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Rolling deadline)
- Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes e.V. (Rolling deadline)
* As this information could change at any time, please always consult each foundation's website.
When to apply to the DAAD
You can apply for doctoral funding via the German Academic Exchange service (DAAD).
As application deadlines vary by country, please check the DAAD website for the deadline applicable to you.
Please ensure you apply to the Hertie School at least 2 months before your DAAD deadline to allow enough time for processing your application.
How to apply to the Doctoral Programme in Governance with external funding
Follow the steps on our Apply to a Doctoral Programme in Governance page.
Please note that your application will take at least 6-8 weeks to be processed once submitted.
Research Associate Position
It is possible to apply to the Doctoral Programme in Governance if you join the Hertie School as a research associate on a project.
The timeline pictured below shows the order of the research associate application process:
When to apply
If you successfully apply for an advertised Hertie School research position then you may consequently apply to the Doctoral Programme in Governance.
There is no deadline for this but rather is processed upon application.
How to find a Hertie research associate position
Visit our page for Research Associate positions where we regularly update current job offers.
